Ukiah Community Concerts presents:

Premiering with Emmy award-winning Dale Gonyea this afternoon, this year's Ukiah Community Concert lineup looks to appeal to a more eclectic audience. An accomplished pianist with a comedic take on life, he wears red high tops with his tux, entertaining audiences from coast to coast, robot-sharp and lyrical.

The Ukiah Community Concert Association has been going strong for more than 65 years and its mission, to bring world-class musicians to the community and educational outreach concerts to the schools, has been a boon to Ukiah.

Last year, Indigo Ensemble, a multi-national chamber group, visited River Oak Charter School where the children sat rapt as they played and afterwards came forward to have the opportunity to play instruments including one from the 17th century. They asked questions eliciting responses of what it takes to become a professional musician and waited in line for autographs.

Similarly last year, La Prima Trio, three friends who make beautiful music together, visited the students at Oak Manor Elementary School where the kids were equally enthralled, many of whom had never experienced anything like it.

"We are specifically looking to extend outreach to the schools. We can no longer rely on membership alone to continue to do our work. We are open to new board members and community contributions. In the past we have had as many as 800 members; our membership today is approximately 325," says board president Elena Casanova, who, with her family, will soon be moving to Vacaville, leaving the seat vacant for the next person to take the helm.

"We've been very successful in having a core of hard-working board members and we're trying to reach out to the community by presenting a more diverse line-up, less traditional, this year," she said. "We recognize that the world is changing and with the Internet and last minute purchasing, people no longer plan ahead for a year's worth of musical entertainment. In the past, our membership was so full that single ticket sales were unavailable. Now, we're moving more towards promoting them."

This year's repertoire is geared to a younger and wider audience. San Francisco-based Musica Pacifica, a baroque ensemble, described as "some of the finest baroque musicians in the world" by American Record Guide, will be performing on Nov. 9. They use original instruments combining a unique sound of baroque and modern day music.

Next up will be RichterUzur, a duo of master musicians, guitar and cello, on Feb. 14, 2014, playing "a whimsical mashed-up blend of classical, world and rock music." Casanova has seen them perform live at the Nashville Showcase and describes these college professors as incredibly talented, mixing rock with classical, striking a chord with both young and old alike.

The Gothard Sisters, fiddlers and dancers, will be in Ukiah on March 9, 2014, and will also be presenting master classes and a mini concert at an as-yet-to-be-determined school.

Although she has not heard them live, Casanova met the threesome personally while in Nashville, saying they are eloquent and really do have those stunning blue eyes. "We wanted to reach out to dancers; it's primarily Irish music, Celtic, a folkloric theme. They are young, talented and energetic and fit the bill for community outreach.

"We pick our artists primarily from Live on Stage, Inc., an agency that provides communities with packaged deals. A representative comes here and gives us access to all the necessary technical requirements for a concert including lighting, sound and staging. They supply us with formatted press releases, facilitate interviews with artists and contact information. They provide artists to hundreds of organizations nationwide and the service is geared toward the community rather than the artist. They have a showcase in Nashville with many of their performers. I've attended it over the years," she says.

The season finale, the star feature, will be the three-time Grammy nominee Tierney Sutton band on May 17, 2014, and Casanova is hoping they will do a full-morning master class at the high school. A world-renowned jazz singer, she performs with a drummer, a guitarist and two bass players, one of whom is Kevin Axt.

"We really worked hard with her agent to make this happen," says Casanova. "She's just come out with a new album, After Blue, a tribute to Joni Mitchell. When they play, they basically don't have anything written down. The way they work together, the way they are so connected, they evolve like a singular unit. Their music is just happening, at the moment; it's a spiritual experience. They're so connected with the music; they just pull you in.

"The real goal is to bring outside musicians to connect us to the outside world, on stage, live, here. It's a completely different experience to be there with live music; nothing replaces that. It's an opportunity to come be with your friends in a social environment; you get to sit with them and enjoy an amazing concert. We provide a musical experience and a sense of community; by being together we become healthier and more interconnected."

Season opener is Dale Gonyea today (Oct. 27) at 3 p.m. at the Ukiah High Cafetorium. Adult tickets are $20 and student tickets are $5. Season subscription for all five concerts is $55 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets are available online at www.ukiahconcerts.org or at Dig Music, Mendocino Book Company, Good's Stamp Shop and at the door. For more info, call 463-2738.